Flood protection means



May 28, 1940. H. M. KNIGHT FLOOD PROTECTION MEANS Filed May 13, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l T4T Flag-3 INVENTOR HERE ERT M. KNIGHT ATTORNEY May 28, 1940. H. M. KNIGHT FLOOD PROTECTION MEANS Filed May 13, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 x lgrio V E INVENTOR M. KNIGHT W HERBERT BY May 28, 1940. H. M. KNIGHT FLOOD PROTECTION MEANS Filed May 13, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR MKNIGHT HERBERT BY Patented May 28, 1940 UNITED STATES eAiENT OFFICE FLOOD PROTECTION MEANS Herbert Knight, Montclair, N. J. Application May 13, 1938, Serial No. 207,655

9 Claims.

This invention has reference to means of improvement in theprotecting of areas and improvements against damage resulting from high waters incident to flood conditions, and is more particularly related to means which are installed in advance of, or during the period of flood conditions, and removable after the passage of such ilood stage.

One of the objects oi this invention is a placeable, removable and replaceable flood-barrier, which, when removed, leaves the site previously occupied by such barrier unoccupied and .free from any interfering structures or impediments. Another object of the invention is a type of barrier which can be safely extended indefinitely upward as the flood peak rises. A further object of the invention is a flood barrier in which a major element is a stop-plank element of metal. Still another object of the invention is a type of metal stop plank which can be nested. for compact storage when not in use. object of the invention is a metal stop-plank which employs a crimp as a tightening and fastening means. A further object of the invention is a flood protecting structure using standard structural shapes as parts thereof. Still another object of the invention is a flood protection system in which a sheet-pile core is employed in connection with a placeable and removable stopplank superstructure. 'Another objectof the invention is a flood protection system in which post-restraining boxes are supported by, and connected to a sheet-pile core. Still a further object of the invention is a flood protection structure in which guide-posts are employed in connection with sustaining-posts. Still further objects of the invention will appear from the specifications and the accompanying plans.

The specifications and the accompanying drawings illustrate the usual and preferred embodi ment of. the invention, but they are not to be interpreted as illustrating all of the forms in which the invention may be embodied, nor as excluding such forms as are not illustrated.

I illustrate my invention by the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a cross-section of the flood-protection s stem on the line i-l, of Fig. 3; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the back of such a system on the line 2-2, of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a horizontal top view of such a system entire line 3-3, of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a horizontal top view of the post-restraining box, used in such a system, on the line 4--4, of Fig. 6; Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross-section of the sustaining-post employed, on the line 55, of Fig. 6; Fig. 6 is a vertical cross- Still a further section of the restraining box and its appurtenant parts, on the line 6-45, of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-section, showing sustaining posts and stop-planls, on the line 1-1, of Fig. 5; Fig.8 is a view of the stop-planks, nested as in storage; Fig. 9 is a cross-section at the top of a brace, showing sustaining-posts, stop-planks and brace in position; Fig. 10 is a vertical cross-section of a restraining-box and sustaining-post, on the line Ha -iii, of Fig. 4; Fig. 11 is of such box and post, on the line III l, of Fig. 5; Fig. 12 is a horizontal cross-section of a restraining box and sustaining-post, on the line I--i2, of Fig. ll; Fig. 13 is a horizontal crosssection oi a sustaining post at a splicing point, on the line it-i3, of Fig. 14; Fig. lei is a vertical cross-section of a post at a splicing point, on the line l-ii, of Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is a vertical crosssection of a post at a splicing point, on the line i--i E, of Fig. 13, and Fig. 16 is a vertical cross- 20 section of the flood-protection system, showing a sustaining-post in multiple extended length at a splicing point.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in

which similar numbers refer to similar parts: i is a base-block; 2 is a line of sheet-piling; 3 is a buttress-block, having chases 4, therein. Braces E abut against said block and a wedge 6 tightens the same. Skew-backs l are a part of sustainingposts 8, which are housed in restraining-boxes 9.

25 and feet '26 support said box on said sheet- 4'0 iling. A slot 21 is adapted to receive said stopplanks. while hooks 28 engage said restrainingbox, and flanges 23 and ledges 3t constitute parts of said slot. Guide-posts 3i are inserted in boxes 32. portion 33 and a larger section portion 3 3, while crimps 35 and flanges 36 are portions of such 7 metal stop-planks. Sustaining-posts have slots it? which engage pins 36, inserted through holes 39 in splice-plates it. Apertures 4! are in said splice-plates, and hoisting apertures 42 are in said face-plate.

The usual method followed in protecting areas liable to sudden or periodic inundation by freshets, or other causes of exceptionally high water,

a vertical cross-section 10 The restraining-boxes have flanges 3-5 Metal stop-planks have a reduced section 45 is the partial, or entire surrounding of such areas by a bank of earth, known as a levee, or by a thick, high concrete wall, both requiring a long time, and a large expenditure of money in their installation. Such constructions occupy a large area of valuable land, particularly in the case of levees, rendering unavailable such occupied land for business or commercial purposes, and making it, and often the more Valuable realty of the 10- cality, exempt from, and non-productive of, revenue or taxes. While their benefit and use is usually only temporary, and may often occur only once or at most, a few times over a period of years, they are permanent, so far as their effect upon the development and productivity of the community is concerned, permanently withdrawing the occupied territory from. profitable use.

This invention overcomes these serious drawbacks, furnishing a quick and immediate means of staying the effect of flood waters, offering a structure of adequate strength therefor, and at the same time leaving the site unencumbered after the passage of the flood. By its means a flood can be followed in its rise until the peak is attained, be that peak high, or medium or low, only so much of the structure being employed as is necessary to control and limit the spread of the rising water, and upon the subsidence of the flood waters all of the superstructure, above the ground surface is removed, hauled to an adjacent point of storage, where it is held until another occasion for its use arises, either after a shorter or longer period of non-use. In the meantime, and while the stream surface elevation is normal, or near normal, the area occupied by the flood protection means, is free from any and all encumbrance above the surface, and the normal activities of business and commerce can proceed unimpeded and uninterrupted.

The system of flood protection consists essentially of a base-block I of masonry, usually concrete, which said base-block is super-imposed upon and about a line of sheet-piling 2. In rocky soils, such sheet-pile core may not be necessary, but in situations where the soil is liable to erosion under heavy heads or from rapid flows, such a sheet-pile core is both desirable and requisite. This sheet-pile core, which is usually, although not necessarily, of metal, has been driven at, or near, the perimeter of the area to be protected. A buttress-block 3 is located adjacent to and back of the baseblock, relative to the stream to be guarded against, the top of both of said blocks being at, or slightly below the ground surface, thereby removing them from interference with passage or use over the area beneath which they are located. These buttress blocks have chases A in their top surfaces, such chases being adapted to receive the lower end of braces 5, one end of which rests upon and within the aforesaid chase, while the other end engages, either directly, or through a wedge 6, a skew-back 1, which said skew-back is immovably fastened to the sustaining-post 8. This sustaining-post is vertical, its lower end being housed in the restraining-box $9. The sustaining post consists essentially of an I-beam member In, having cheek-plates II extending therefrom and connected to a face-plate 52. These three elements, I-beam, cheek-plates and face-plate are so riveted, welded or other wise fastened together, as these elements act as a beam, transmitting the pressures from the stopplanks through the braces to the buttress-blocks. A foot-plate I3 is also rigidly connected to the sustaining-post, and rests upon the base-block,

acting as a back support to said post, and at the same time transferring a portion of the stresses incident to the high water to the base-block.

Stop-planks l4 abut against the face-plate and are positioned between said face-plate and guideposts St.

The restraining-box 9 consists essentially of a cubical casting surrounded on five sides'or faces, the upper face only being open said face having flanges l5 providing a ledge M5 on which a cover may be laid when the system is not in service. The box is divided into two compartments, compartment I1, into which the sustaining-post is wardly from said box 9, having a foot ifithereon,

which engages with, and may be fastened to, the

sheet-piling 2.

A longitudinal slot 2'! is an open trough, usual ly, but not necessarily, of metal, adapted toreceive the bottom stop-plank, said slot having a hook 28 adapted to engage the said box, and also being provided with a flange 29 and a ledge'30 for the placing of a cover, at times when the system is not in service.

The stop-planks, which maybe of metal, lum-. her or other satisfactory material, are superficial ly in contact with the said faceplates 12, the lower plank being inserted in the said slot 21,

upper planks being superimposed upon the lower,

planks as the flood stage rises. Guide-posts 31, which are usually of timber, are positioned along the outer, or front, face of the stop-planks, being upon opposite faces of said stop-planks, relative to said sustaining posts, and staggered along the I longitudinal axis of said protection, with reference to said sustaining-posts, said guide-posts being inserted in boxes 32 them in said base-block.

If the stop-planks are of metal they are preferably of trough form, having a bottom portion 33 of smaller area than the upper portion 34, the size and formation of said bottom portion being such that the said bottom through the open end of the trough, thereby consolidating and condensing the stacked planks, and occupying a very small space while out of use and service, during such storage. These planks have crimps 35 along their sides, such crimps serving as a rest for superimposed planks while in storage. At the same time they aid in positioned to receive portion can be inserted the positioning of the planks, the shape, size and location of the crimps being such, that whenin plank, registers with, and ishoused within the crimp of the under plank. Great tightness results, preventing the leaking of water through the joints between the planks, by reason of this '60 position of service the crimp of the superimposed locking together of the juxtaposed planks by 1 means of the said crimps.

Flanges 36 extend along the edges of the planks, which flanges are ture in advance" of the rising water. For this purpose the foot of the superimposed post has a slot 31 adapted to slide upon and to be held by a headed-pin 38 which has been inserted through a hole 39 in a splice-plate 40, which is immovably fastened to the I-beam. Apertures M in the'said splice-plate permit of more securely fastening the splice-plate and the I-beam, by means of welding. The face-plate l2 has holes 42 therein, through which a pin or hook may be introduced for use with a hoisting means, making the handling and placing of the sustaining-posts much easier and quicker The structure hereinbefore described is strong and adequate for the service required. All upper major stresses are carried through skew-backs and braces to the buttress-blocks, which are deeply and firmly imbedded in the soil. The sheet-piling prevents any leaking or boiling through, or beneath the structure, and, with the base-block, resists the inward pressure from the water at or near the base of the structure. No material is employed that is liable to be destroyed by flood or fire, and the parts, and their form and size admit of ready assembling and rapid removal, the buttress-block and the base-block, with its boxes and slot, being the only portions left in position during low or normal water heights.

What I claim:

1. Flood protection means comprising in combination with a sheet-pile cut-off wall, a base block enclosing the top of said wall, said block having a slot in its upper side extending longitudinally of the wall and said base block having boxes at spaced intervals to each other longitudinally of the wall and disposed next to the slot, posts having their lower=ends socketed in said boxes, stop-planks in and above said slot and adjacent said posts, buttress blocks adjacent to the base block and. each opposite a box in the base block, and a brace from each said buttress block to the post adjacent thereto.

2. Flood protection means comprising in combination a base block having a slot in its upper side extending longitudinally thereof and of ma terial other than the material of said base block, said base block having post sockets alternately on opposite sides of said slot, sustaining postsin said sockets on one side of the slot and guide posts in said sockets on the other sideof the slot, stop-planks longitudinally disposed with respect to said base block and extending between the sustaining posts and the guide posts and with the lower said stop-plank inserted in said slot, buttress blocks adjacent to the base block I andeach opposite a sustaining post on the opposite side thereof from said slot, and braces engaging said sustaining posts and corresponding buttress blocks.

3. Flood protection means comprising in combination a base block having a plurality of upwardly opening boxes therein spaced from each other longitudinally of the block, sustaining posts socketed in said boxes and projecting upwardly from said blocks, trough-shaped stop-planks supported by said base block and in contact with said sustaining posts, buttress blocks adjacent to the base blockand each opposite a box in the base block, and a brace from each said buttress block to the post adjacent thereto.

tom of the trough disposed vertically and the two.

sides thereof disposed horizontally, the edges of said sides remote from said vertically disposed bottoms having flanges along said edges.

6. In a structure of the class described, a plurality of stop-planks, said stop-planks each being trough-shaped in transverse section and having a vertically disposed bottom and two horizontally disposed sides, said sides having longitudinal edges remote from said bottom, and a flangev along each of said edges, said flanges of adjacent stop-planks each overlapping the vertically disposed bottom of an adjacent plank when assembled in said structure with the said vertically disposed bottoms of alternate stop-planks in vertical alinement with each other. I

'7. In a structure of the class described, a plurality of stop-planks, said stop-planks each being trough-shaped in transverse section and having a vertically disposed bottom and two horizontally disposed sides, said sides having crimps therein and having longitudinal edges remote from said bottom, a flange along each oi said edges, said crimps of adjacent planks registering, and said flanges of one stop-plank overlapping upon vertically disposed bottoms of adjacent stop-planks when said planks areassembled in said structure so that the said vertically disposed bottoms of alternate stop-planks are in vertical alinement.

8. Flood protection means comprising in combination a base block having a plurality of upwardly opening boxes therein spaced from each other longitudinally of the block, sustaining post's socketed in said boxes and projecting upwardly from said block, trough-shaped stop-planks wherein the bottoms of the troughs are vertically disposed and the sides'of the troughs are horizontally disposed and said stop planks are juxtaposed to each other one above the next and providing crimps juxtaposed to and adapted to engage crimps of adjacent planks, said stop-planks each having flanges disposed in vertical planes with the flanges of one plank overlapping the vertically disposed trough bottom of the next HERBERT M. KNIGHT. 1 

